Lock mechanism for slidable windows



2 Sheo'cr-Sheot 1 'jW:-.-c. WALLACE Filed Dec. 1, L928 ATTORNEY Jan. 26,1925.

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w. c. WALL ACE LOCK MECHANISM FOR SLI DABLE WINDOWS m Filed Dec. 1, 19232 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 26, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM CARLILE WALLACE, OF NEW YORK, N. .Y;, ASSIGNOR OF- ONE-HALF TOJOSEPH E. GARRABRANT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. r

- LOCK MECHANISM non s InABLE'wINDows.

' Application filed December To all whom it may concern: a

' Be it known that I, WILLIAM GARLILE WALLACE, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, and resident ofthe borough of Manhattan, in the city,county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Look Mechanism for Slidable WVindows, of which thefollow 111g is a specification.v

This invention relates to window raising, lowering and locking means,and'my improvement is directedto certain simple control mechanism ofnovel character which is easily manipulable under a moderate amount offorce to perform the operations of window opening and closing. I V

' While capable of employment with various types of slidable windows, myinvention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with thewindows of motor car doors, with which it is especially desirable thatthe operation thereof be, attended with great ease, and also that thewindow should stay in any set partlyopen or closedpositions without theapplication of any locking means other than is comprised in the organismofth'e operating mechanism.

' Briefly expressed, my invention comprises aheemployment of anarticulate member,

such as a chain, composed of pivotal links,

' and operable in straight line movement to downwardly. I have foundthat by placing a straight length of link chain in atube or channel ofsuitable cross-sectional dimensions for its parallel walls to serveasguides, that the chain will function like a stiff plunger when it issubjected to a pushing 3 eiiort. Therefore, while the window can bepulled by the chain in one direction, it can also be pushed by the samechain in the other direction.

Further my invention comprehends the employment of a two-part wedgedevice, operable within the chain containing channel and constitutingthe means of'connection be tween the chain and window; This wedge deviceis effective as such to hold the'window in a set position, either partlyopen Figure 1.

1, 1923. s erial'No. 677 ,927. I

or closed, under the influence of gravity providedby the Weight of thewindow.

But the wedge device is of such character as to become released bothwhen the chain ispulled upon to open the window and when the chain'is'pressed against this wedge device, thereby enabling a pushing actionof the chain to move the window downwardly. Hence, the window can beeasily opened by "pullingupon the chain and can be closed Figure 3 is' asection' on the line 3 3 of Figure 1. V J "Figure 4 isan'enlarged'detail view in elevation, showing the operating chain, thechannel therefor, and the tensioning means. IFigure 5 is a detail, sideview, partly-in seetion,'on astilllarger scale, showin'g'the wedgedevice; bothpull a window upwardly or to push'it wedge releasingoperation influenced by downward push of the chain, and

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8'8 of Figure 5.

In said views, let 1 indicate a motor car door, or other frame for awindow 2 which is to be capable of being raised or lowered. With motorcar doors the window 2 is usually a, plainvs'heet of glass that runs inguides 3, 3, and is fixed in a base channel 4. This channel is hereshownas provided with a lug 5, that engages a' spur.6, extended from the baseportion 7 of a' wedge member 8, which is slidable in a guide or channel9.

section on the line 22 of As is well known the front and rear panels and11 at the lower part of motor car doors are separated by a space whichserves to receive the lowered window, and this space also accommodatesthe operating mechanism.

A, complementary wedge member 12 having a head portion 13 is fittedloosely 1n channel 9, the head portion 13 lying between the end of;wedge member 8, and "the terr minal portion of a chain 14, which chainis slidable within the guide orchannel 9. The wedge element-s 8 and12 attheir-oppositely inclined meeting surfaces, are pro vided with a raceway15, containing 'balls16, to lessen the friction between them, and saidwedge e1en1ents' a re normally urgedint a .wedg ng action within thechannel 9 by means of a spring 17 iiiterposed between head portion 18and'the opposed end otwedgememher 8. Therefore, when the apparatus is ina state of restthewedge is expanded into frictional contact with thesides ofchannel 9, thus providing a loekto hold the window in a setvertical position, either closed or partly open,

The window can not be moved fromthis set position without recourse firstbeing had to means for releasing the wedge, because downward pressure orvibratory influence, applied directly to the window, will mere- 1y havethe effect of tightening the .wedge and locking it more securely.

The chain 14, movable in channel 9, constitutes the actuating medium forthe wedge, as well as, servingfto transmit the force wherewiththewindo'w is raised and lowered.

One end of this chain is secured, as at 18,

to a fixedframemember 19 andtheother end is engaged with the upperportion of wedge element-8. The manner of this engagement, ashereshown,is of special character. Thus, the upper port-ionof wedge element 8 isreduced laterally to provide clearances for the accommodation of .sidebars 20, 20, of the terminal chain link, re spectively between its sidesand the sides of channel 9, these side, bars being provided withaligned, longitudinal slots 21,21, which receive the projecting ends ofa pin 22, that extends transversely. through wedge element 8.

The chain 1 1 is shown as engaged with a spur wheel 23, carried by ashaft 24:, here indicated as journalled in a bearing 25,

that is secured to the frame member 19 and.

located near the upper end of channel 9. Ahandle 26, attached to shaft24, enables the spur wheel to be rotated, in either direction, formovement of the chain 14 with in channel 9. Theslack of the chain istaken up by an idler27 that is mounted on an arm 28, said arm beingpivoted to the frame 19 at 29 and yieldingly extended by a tensionalmember 30. The tension thus applied serves also to partly balance theweight of the window.

The operation of my improved window control device is as follows: Whenthe chain 14 is drawn upwardly within channel 9, as by rotating spurwheel 23 in one direction, the-first effect is the movement of side bars20 until the lower ends of their slots 21 engage the projecting ends ofpin 22, (see Fig. 6. -whe'reuipon a. continuedupward pull of the chainfirst releases the wedging effect of elements 8 and 12, and then freelylifts the window to the desired partly or fully closed. position. henthe pulling effort ceasesth'e weight of the window causes the wedgeelement 8. to re-engage wedge, element 12, aided by theiwedgesspreadinginfluence of spring 17. if i In orde'r tolower the window, the spurwheel 23 is rotated in the opposite direction, to impart downwardmovement to chain it in channel 9, the slots21, in this action,descending over the ends of pin 22, until the lower ends of side bars31,31, forming part of the adjacent link, come. into contact with thetop of wedge portion 13, and by continued ,downwardl pressure,compressing spring 17 and releasing the engagement of wedge elements 8.and 12; the continued downward pressure thenceforward necessarily havingthe effect ofloweringthewindow to the desired degree of opening, Whenthe downward pressure is relieved the wedge lock again becomes effectivein the manner before described.

The channel opening is guarded by partly coveringplates 32, 32, whichleave between them a narrow opening, sufiicient in extent for the travelof-spur 6.

The chain 14, as confined within the channel 9, is as effective under apushing effort as a rigid bar would be, and thereby enables me toutilize a single chain length for the dual purpose of pulling a windowup and pushing it down.

Variations within the scope and spirit of myinvention are equallycomprehended by the foregoing disclosure;

I claim:

1. Locking means adapted for usein connection with a sli'dable windowhaving -a guide channel and control means, said looking means comprisinga wedge connecting element in said. channel between the window andcontrol means, a complementary wedge element in said channel, and.spring'means to normally expand said wedge elements in the channel, tolock the windowv in a set position, said wedge elements beingcontractible to release the window by movement in either direction ofthe control means.

2, Lockin means adapted for use in connection with a slidable windowhavinga guide channel and control means, comprising a two-part wedgedevice within said Ill) "names i channel, one part of said wedge devicehaving means of connection with the Window, and also having means ofengagement; capable of limited slack movement with the control means,the other part of the Wedge device being free Within the channel, and

spring means to normally extend the parts of the Wedge device tofrictionally bind it Within the guide channel thereby locking the Windowin a set position.

Executed at New York this 9th day of November, 1923.

WILLIAM GARLILE XVALLAGE.

